Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-18
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP.
Careless People who Realize that
there h q Lien Law.

there h q Lien Law.
SION sroPpED-sxALL HOUSES AND LARGE HOUSES
As NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ALONG THE MET.
RoPoLIrAN BRANCH.
In talking with architects, builders, material
men, and others interested in the building bust
ness, STAR man has heard great deal lately
about the lien law. The architects speak OF
instances when, through the dishonesty OF the con-
tractor or some contractor, their clients have
been compelled to pay twice for the same
material On the other hand the men
who furnish the supplies say that they have been
obliged recently TO file more liens than usual
and they think that the effect Is not good From
the fact that this subject seems uppermost IL
might be concluded that for some reason or other
this particular law Is causing more friction than
usual In order TO ascertain II this was the case
STAR reporter talked with one OF the leading
dealers In building supplies in this city.
filed oo ns Su ~ e,es 10 9oesSn have
been accustomed TO. / don't like IT, either
would much prefer TO collect my bills In some
other way. II is important for all concerned and
II possible always try TO adjust differences before
reSorting to the law. For a while after this new
lien law was passed by Congress people We're very
particular and gave their personal attention TO
building. had very few bad debts and was able
TO sell cheaper than before. But now there seems
to be growing carelessness. Men erect buildings
and enter upon contracts without inuuiring as To
the responsibility or the men they employ. They
make no inquiry as TO whether these men are pay
lng their bills, and II is seldom now that
am asked to furnish receipts TO the owners.
This lien law was passed in July. 1854, and for
some time after that people building always
before they would make their final payment on the
building. They have given that up, 10 q large
extent In consequence contractors who are
inclined to be dishonest are enabled to have full
swing and after the owner has paid his contractor
the full amount be nnds that there is q bill for
material All this could be avoided by q little
care.
81 don't think" he went on, shat material men
give credit TO persons, relying upon coming back
On the building for the money. Some men may do
that kind OF thing, and thus pave the way for a
certain class OF men TO take contracts who other
wise would nave no show at all man without
men who have both; but ir material men are will
Ing to give him the material and depend upon get
ting the money by liening the building. naturally
a less reliable set OF contractors come into
the field. But, as / have said, the mate
rial men, as a rule, won't do business
In that way, although, of course, there are some
that WILL and that no doubt, Is one cause OF the
trouble. 1t is great temptation to a man TO ac-
cept bid that Is $1,000, or even $780, below the
other bidders, but In such case he should protect
himself by aScertaining whether the contractor is
using the money which he pays him in a legitimate
way There is no difficulty about the lien law II
careless and In consequence the lien law just now
Is rather unpopular good many people are get
ting bit, and certain class OF contractors are
doing we'll"
The views Of an architect on this subject were
published week or so ago In The STAR, and his
remarks may be regarded as a sample OF what they
all say. Some of them GO so far 10 say that the
law protects the material men even when the ma
terial sold Is not used In the house lened but is
sold to the contractor who built the house. In
this way they say that the owner Is obliged to pay
for material which has not been used In the build
Ing. They say that the law only protects dishon-
eSUy and does not accomplish what was sought,
namely, the protection or the mechanics, Tor the
reason that they are sure to be paid, whether any
As is well known, a lien law was in operation In
this District prior TO the passage OF the present
law. the main object OF which was 70 extend the
protection OF the lien to the workingmen. SO
that II the contractor failed TO pay his men, even
the labOrers, they would all have the right to
place liens upon the building for the amount OF
the wages due.
In order to ascertain II there had been an in
crease in the number OF liens filed, STAR reporter
court where all liens are recorded. 1t was
found that from July %, 1876, up to the
time OF the passage Of the new law, which went
into operation July 2, 1884, there had been 39l
liens filed. From the date OF the passage OF the
new law down to the present time the liens re-
the
the following Is the number OF liens recorded each
month: in June 10 in May, 6 In April II in
cem6er II in No 1emoer. "a in October, "a in sep
tember, IA In August, and 10 In July.
ALONG THE METROPOLITAN BRANCH
The subdivision OF suburban property goes on, and
nearly every week there Is a new plat to record
This week the new subdivision is out along the
METROPOLITAN Branch near Forest Glen. j. X.
Hertrord representing a syndicate. has purchased
164 acres adjoining the subdivision OF l2o acres
made by A. S. Pratt Sons. These two subdivis-
ions are on the opposite side OF the railroad from
Forest Glen Mr. HEREFORD and those associated
with him are laying out this ground into building
sites, and Will probably make the SUBDIVISION con.
form as far as the roads, at least, are concerned
with that OF the Pratt subdivision, which lies be-
tween 1t and the railroad. Along tue same road,
but nearer the city, b. f. Leighton and Others,
VINO purchased 134 acres at Brooks station, are
having the ground Subdivided, and they propose
to start village there.
The new hotel at Forrest Glen has opened under
favorable auspices, and as all the rooms are en-
gagged the managers feel that the enterprise is a
success 1t Is fayorite point for short excursions
from the city, and small parties frequently so out
on the afternoon train, take dinner and return on
the evening train.
1t is highly probable that large hotel will be
erected at Takoma Park. The enterprise has so
far taken shape that stock company has been
formed for the purpose and there is some talk OF
starting the work OF building this summer.
SOME OF THE RECENT SUBURBAN SUBDIVISIONS.
STAR reporter. In talking with Mr.. Hermann
Viele, the civil engineer who has laid out great
many OF the recent suburban subdivisions, asked
him how many acres he had subdivided In the past
year.
July last" he replied, 'buL suppose in the year
have subdiv1ded between i, 100 and 200 acres.
Now, let us see IL these figures are accurate.
HIST Uegdn Win Inc dlOuS MASSACHUSETTS,
avenue extended, from Rock Creek TO the Tenley
town road which is controlled by what is known
as the Thompson syndicate. There are :S25 acres
In this subdivision. Then on the west Side OF the
Tenleytown road are the 101 acres which SUBJ
divided for the Bateman syndicate. Farther
along the road, and extending east to klingle
FOrdS, are the 230 acres which are owned by what
is known as the Richmond syndicate. Then there
Is the subdivision or Burieth, with the recent adj
diIiOnS comprising altogether some 164 acres.
Then there is Beair Heights, containing 40 acres,
kalorama 80 acres, and Clinbourne IL acres In
which Subdivided for Mr.. George TrueSdell, and
another tract or acres adjoining. In the Lay
farm, on the 9TH street road, which am SUBJ
dividing for senator Cameron there are 40 acres
'NOw," he continued, III you add up these
figures think that you will md the total to be
LII acres"
SMALL HOUSES AND LARGE HOUSES.
There has been recently good deal OF money
invested In this city, mainly by non-residents In
what are known as small houses. Land has been
purchased In different sections OF the city In large
blocks and rows OF small houses have been erected
or are now In progress OF erection These houses
rent from S25 10 $35 dollars per month, according
to their distance from the business center or the
city, and as a rule there is always good demand
who are competent to judge, TO yield good re-
turn upon the money invested. 1t Is rather
singular that small cheap houses and large costly
houses which are expenSivey furnished should be
clasSed as the best paying investments. But this
is the classification adopted by the rea-eState
brokers, thus uniting the two extremes In the
scale OF values. real-estate broker OF experience
told STAR reporter recently that this latter class
OF houses offered the best real-eState investment
that he knew. A large amount or capital is re-
the investment There are such number OF
DeODie OF means who want TO rent houses here for